Wil Myers among the candidates to hit leadoff for Padres

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/27/15) The Padres don't have a prototypical leadoff hitter on their 40-man roster, so manager Bud Black is already trying to pare down the potential candidates he does have at his disposal, per U-T San Diego.

Report: Marlins show interest in Andy Dirks, Will Venable

The left-handed Dirks missed the 2014 season after suffering from hamstring and back issues. Venable hit .224 with eight home runs and 33 RBI over 406 at-bats in 2014.

Report: Orioles interested in Padres' Will Venable, Seth Smith

by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12/24/14) The Orioles have continued dialogue with the Padres regarding trading for an outfielder, with Padres outfielders Will Venable and Seth Smith drawing the most interest from the team, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Either player would address the team's need for lefthanded hitters who fare well against righthanded pitching. While neither figures to receive significant playing time in San Diego after the Padres imported three outfielders via trade this offseason, either Smith or Venable would be expected to assume a platoon role with Baltimore at the outset of the season with the potential to earn a full-time starting position.

2014 summary:Will Venable entered the season on the upswing created by the 20-20 campaign he had in 2013, but a glacially slow start wore out his welcome with his Fantasy owners. The Padres weren't enamored of his play either, as manager Bud Black sat him more frequently by midseason, and the August promotion of Rymer Liriano further ate into Venable's playing time. Though he played more sparingly in the second half, Venable did recover some of his productivity, hitting .261 with six home runs and seven stolen bases in 177 post-break plate appearances.

Playing time status: With Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers entering the outfield picture, Venable will probably need a trade to get playing time.

2015 outlook: Though Venable's late-season rebound was encouraging, the crowded outfield situation certainly means a further reduction in playing time. His power/speed combination still makes him a compelling play in NL-only leagues, but even in those deep formats, he can probably be acquired via waivers.
(Updated 12/14/14)